Label-holder.



H. E. WALSH.

LABEL HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1913.

1,1 12,501. Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

HENRY EMMET WALSH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LABEL-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Application filed September 26, 1913. Serial N 0. 791,950.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY E. \VALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at (.hicago, in the county of (00k and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label- Holders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for its object the provision of simple, compact, and etticient means for the storing ready for use of druggists labels and the like.

It has been proposed to supply labels in continuous strips rolled for storage inindividual compartments. a.given strip to be drawn out when such a label needed and torn off by means of a tearing or cutting edge upon the line separating the end label from the one next adjacent. This operation requires visual inspection and considerable care to determine the proper line of severance and it is to the overcoming of this difiicult-y in a device of this character that the present invention is directed.

According to the invention the storage cabinet is provided with a gage having a cutting edge. which gage, when drawn out with the label, serves automatically to control the length of label extending beyond the cutter upon the return of the latter and thus accurately positions the end labclwi'th reference to the cutter and insures uniformity in the labels even though detached in the darkness or by a careless person.

In the accompanyin; drawing and in thedescription based thereon is set forth a pre It is fcrred embodiment of the invention. to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodi I ment shown and described, it being susccptible of embodiment in other structural erms and of application to other uses than the holding of labels, such for example, as the holding and delivery of predetermined lengths of wrapping paper and the like. For this reason the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawingFigurc 1 represents in plan view with certain parts broken away a series of three label holders embodying the invention and illustrates three different steps in the use of the device: and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the holder at the right hand in Fig. 1.

An installation of the invention may inchale a series of boxes arrangedslde by side or a drawer divided by partitions 11 into a number of compartments 12 beneath the overhanging roof plate 13, within each of which compartments is loosely disposed a roll 14. comprising a. spirally wound web or strlp of paper 15 which in the case of labels would be gummed upon the lower side and upon the upper side would be printed as a longitudinal series of labels such as indicated at 16. The several compartments, rolls, and appurtenant mechanism would be substantially duplicates one of another and a description of one will suffice for all.

As shown, each of the compartments has a cover plate 17 hinged by the knuckles 18 to a pint-1e 19, this cover plate 17 lying immediately beneath the roof plate 13 and extending outwardly beyond the front .wall 20 of the compartment as a. shelf 21.- The cover plate and shelf are preferably formed, as shown, of sheet metal with ears 22, 23, E24 folded over upon the underside of and in spaced parallel relation to theshelf to serve as guiding fingers for the strip of paper. These guiding fingers are arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of the medial line of the shelf, the fingers 23 being of greater longitudinal extent that the others and slit for a portion of their extent upon a line substan tially parallel with the axis of the shelf and slightly. offset toward the shelf so as to bear against the paper with spring pressure at 25,

thus forming a tensioning device to prevent accldental slipping of the paper with reference'tothe shelf.

Certain other ears 26 and 27 are struck upwardly from the shelf and bent over into parallel spaced relation with the upper'face of the shelf to foriuretaining fingers within which is mounted for reciprocation the gage 98 which has its front end formed as a cutting edge 99 which may be either serrated or straight. At its rear end the gage is provided with upturned stops 30 which are adapted to impinge against the fingers 2G to limit the forward travel of the gage while therearward travel of the same is limited by the abutment of its rear end against a stop 31. struck up from the cover plate. In its central forward portion the gage is provided with an opening 32 and at the front edge thereof with an upturned finger piece 53 by means of which the gage is reciprocated.

It, will be observed that in the normal posit-ion occupied by the parts of the unit at the center of Fig. 1 the cutting edge 29 of the gage 2S slightly overhangs the forward edge of the shelf 21 which is also advantageously cut back in its central portion.

" A previous label having been severed by the cutting edge the advance edge of the next label lies immediately beneath the overhanging edge of the gage and is grasped together with the edge of the gage by the thumb and fore fin er,wthe gage and label being together pul ed forward until the stops 30 strike the retaining finger 26. The gage is now returned to its rearward POSI- tion by pressing against the finger piece 33, the label being allowed to remain in its advanced position indicated at the right hand in Fig. 1. The extent of play or the range of movement of the gage corresponds exactly to the length of each label wherefore when the label is pulled out with the gage to'the full extent of its forward movement and then the gage is pushedback to the full extent of its rearward movement the cutting edge of the gage will coincide with the proper line upon which the label should be severed. The label is now grasped between the fingers and held at an upward inclination against the cutting edge and torn transversely by a lateral movement upon the cutting edge of the gage, leaving the forward end of the next label underneath the overhanging cutting edge of the gage as indicated in the center of the figure.

It will be understood that the relations of the several parts may be modified or interchanged, as by the placing of the gage beneaththe label and the cutting edge upon the shelf; also the return of the gage to its rearmost position may be effected automatically by means of a spring attached thereto and anchored to a suitable fixed portion of the device.

Other modifications coming well within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claimi 1. In a-dcvice of the character described and including a paper feed and a cutting edge, a gage movable in one direction with the paper and in the other direction independently thereof, the range of movement of the gage corresponding to the length of the paper to be severed and the paths of movement of the paper and gage being substantially parallel and closely adjacent whereby to permit them both to be jointly grasped by the fingers and drawn forward, substantially as describ d.

2. In a device of the character described and including a paper feed and a cutting edge, a reciprocating gage movable in a forward direction with the apcr and rearwardly independent thereof the range of movement of the gage corresponding to-the length of paper to be severed, and means to support the paper closely adjacent the forward end of the gage whereby to permit them to be jointly grasped by the fingers and drawn forward, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described and including a paper feed and a cuttingedge, a reciprocating gage movable in a forward direction with the paper and rearwardly independent thereof, the rangemf movement of the gage corresponding to the length of paper to be severed, a cutting edge 'being carried by the gage, substantially as described- 4-. In a device of the character described, a compartment for the roll of paper, a feed shelf extending therefrom and provided with guiding means, a gage mounted for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the shelf and having a cutting edge associated therewith, the range of movement of the gage corresponding to thelength of paper to be severed, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described,

a compartment for the roll of paper, a feed shelf extendin Y therefrom and provided with guiding ngers, a gage mounted for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the shelf, a cutting edge associated with the shelf and gage the ran e of movement of the gage corresponding to the length of paper to be severed, substantiiillyf as described.

6. In a device' of the character described, a compartment for the roll of paper, a feed shelf extending therefrom and provided on the under side with guiding fingers, the gage mounted for longitudinal reciprocation on the shelf andhaving its forward and provided with a cutting edge, the range of movement of the gage corresponding with the length of paper to be severed, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, a compartment for the roll of paper, a feed shelf extending therefrom and provlded on the under side with guiding fingers, a gage mounted for longitudinal reciprocation upon the shelf and having its forward end projecting beyond the shelf and provided with a cutting edge, and means to hmit the range of movement of the gage to correspond to the length of paper to be severed, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, a compartment for the roll of paper, a feed shelf extending therefrom and provided on the under side with guiding fingers, a gage mounted for longitudinal reciprocation upon the shelf and having jecting beyond the shelf and provided with a cutting edge, interengaging stops on the gage and shelf tolimit the range of movement of the gage to correspond to the length of paper to be severed, and means to advance its forward end proand return the gage, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the-character described,-

a casing, a ribbon feed therein, a gage having its forward end projectingfrom the 021s ing in its retracted position and mounted to reciprocate between a "retracted and an 'extended position relative to the casing, means to support the paper and gage in position to have their forward end jointly grasped and drawn outwardly to the extended position of the gage, and means to return the gage independently of the paper substan-.

to reciprocate between a retracted and an extended position relative to the casing, means to support the paper and gage in position to have their forward end 'oiiitly' grasped and drawn outwardly to t 0 ex tended position of the gage, means to return the gage independently of the paper, and means available in the retracted-position of the gage to sever the ribbon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof-I hare hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I'IICNR Y EMMI'JT WALSH.

Witnesses J. B. QUINN, JAMES P. QUINN. 

